7 Foods You Should Never Reheat with a Microwave

Whether you are at home or office pantry, one of the essential kitchen appliances that most of us can’t live without is a little thing called microwave. After all, you have to admit microwave is pretty handy whenever you want to reheat your leftover from last night or food that has been bought or cooked earlier. Besides, why waste the foods if they are still edible? Although such practise is perfectly understandable, did you know that not all food is subject for reheating? Or better yet, are you aware that some of the foods can cause health risk if reheated? Well, in case you’re wondering which foods you should never reheat in the first place, read on and find out.

a) Rice

Rice, the cornerstone of (every) Malaysian’s essential food item. Reheating rice is actually a common practise among many people here. But at the same time, doing so may cause food poisoning. So, what gives? The problem lies on the rice that is left sitting at room temperature for too long. This, in turn, allows the spores known as Bacillus cereus grow into bacteria. Once the bacteria contaminated the rice, you may get sick from consuming them even after you have reheated them in the microwave. As a result, you may either suffer from mild diarrhoea or vomiting.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to throw your leftover rice or rice that have been cooked earlier. A rule of thumb here is to ensure that the rice is not left at room temperature for too long. Another thing is the way you store the rice. Instead of leaving them out in the open, it’s best to keep the rice in an airtight plastic container and store it in the fridge for no more than one day. Once you’re ready to use the rice to reheat them in the microwave, make sure it was piping or steaming hot all the way through.

b) Chicken

Chicken is one of the most commonly-eaten foods among many Malaysians, and it was no doubt a meal staple regardless lunch or dinner. But here’s the bad news: reheating chicken in the microwave may cause digestive problems such as stomach upset due to high protein content. So, what should you do if you have a leftover chicken? Well, don’t throw it away just yet. The best thing you can do is to serve the chicken cold with mixed salad or sandwich. If you still insist on eating the chicken hot, make sure the dish is steaming all the way through upon reheating it in the microwave. Also, the chicken meat on the inside should not be pink or red in them.

c) Eggs

Here’s the thing -- it is generally safe to reheat a food or meal that have eggs in it as long as they are steaming hot. However, it’s a big no-no to reheat boiled or scrambled eggs. This is because eggs, especially the cooked version, can become toxic when you expose them to high temperatures (read: microwave). Another reason is because eggs are just like chicken, which also contains lots of protein. And as you know, once the protein is broken upon the reheating process, it changes its composition and may cause you digestive problems such as stomach upset. So, the next time you have made a boiled or scrambled egg, it’s best to consume them as soon as possible.

d) Potatoes

Be it baked or mashed, potatoes are one of the most popular comfort foods that are easily available all year-round. Not only that, this starchy tuber contains tons of health benefits such as vitamin C and potassium. However, potatoes can be an ugly culprit as well, particularly if they are left hanging at room temperature. Doing so can promote the growth of a bacteria known as botulism. In fact, reheating the leftover potatoes may cause food poisoning because botulism can’t be eliminated immediately even with the use of a microwave.

The solution? Consume the potatoes as soon as possible after it has been cooked. But if you are really unable to finish off the potatoes, make sure you refrigerate them immediately to prevent bacterial growth.

e) Spinach

If you watch Popeye before, you’ll know spinach is good for you. But still, spinach can be harmful to your health, especially if you plan to reheat them in the microwave. This is because spinach contains a high level of nitrates, which will turn toxic if reheated. So, it’s best to consume it immediately after preparation.

f) Lettuce

This popular leafy greens are best eaten raw. Of course, you can cook the lettuce, but just like spinach, never reheat them due to high concentrations of nitrate.

g) Mushrooms

Mushrooms are best consumed right after preparation. But if you are planning to reheat leftover mushrooms the following day, you will risk yourself to digestive problems such as stomach upset due to the composition change on its protein values. Even if you insist on eating them the next day, don’t reheat them. Just consume the mushrooms cold.

Now that you know the reason on why some of the foods aren’t actually meant for reheating, remember to think twice before you decide to use the microwave. Then again, if you're too lazy to leave home but don't want to risk reheating your food, get your food delivered to you via FoodPanda. They have over 600 restaurants in Malaysia so you'll never have to worry about going hungry! The choice is yours.